Synthesis of MCM-49 Zeolite and Its Catalytic Properties for Alkylation

The MCM 49 zeolite was successfully synthesized using an organic mixture solution (OMS) yielded from hydrogenation of caprolactam as the template instead of the pure hexamethyleneimine (HMI). The OMS contains HMI (76 0%～84 0%), caprolactam (1 0%～10 0%), water, and a few by products. So the synthesis cost of the MCM 49 zeolite decreases obviously. The MCM 49 zeolite synthesized using OMS as the template shows similar crystallinity and purity to that synthesized using pure HMI in conventional process. From the results of NH 3 TPD, N 2 adsorption isotherm, and DTA, it is evident that the MCM 49 zeolite possesses three kinds of acidic centers with different strength, and has a high specific surface area and good thermostability. Furthermore, the MCM 49 zeolite shows good catalytic behavior for the alkylation of benzene with dilute ethylene to ethylbenzene.